Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: It Would Take a Miracle . . . To Experience Real Peace
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All to You - Lincoln Brewster, Angels We Have Heard on High, None But Jesus - Hillsong, O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Read: Matthew 2:1-11, Isaiah 58
Think: If we were bringing our King Jesus a gift today, what would it be? An iPad or something from Cartier? It’s true that The Magi brought the Messiah valuable treasures from the east.
You can’t help but wonder what God would love to have from us. It seems like a sacrifice of some sort would be in order, after all He sacrificed for us. And sacrifices were the way of the times to pay penance for sins back in the day. But….God was upset with the Israelites and their idolatry. Day after day they sought him out, seeming eager to know His ways, yet they forsook His commands and their fasting was lacking sincerity of heart. It looks as though God is revealing His own heart’s cry in Isaiah 58:6-9 (NIV).
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Do: Make time in your busy schedule this month to serve the Lord and do it from your heart. Draw your strength from Jesus. He will give you time, courage, and unconditional love to impart to those who need it most – and that might even be your mother-in-law.
Pray: Thank you, God, for providing me with an abundance of blessings. How may I serve you? I ask You to put on my heart what is on Your heart and I will receive my strength from you to do whatever you ask. Amen
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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